Tuesday, May 9, 2017

The Damned Return to 40th Anniversary Tour + New Music Coming Soon

Less than a week after Captain Sensible fell offstage at their sold out show in Toronto, resulting in a broken rib, The Damned were forced to postpone three shows this past week, including Montreal, Boston and New York (dates are rescheduled for later this month). On Saturday night, the band made a triumphant return at a sold out Stone Pony in Asbury Park - sitting on a specially built 'throne' created by his band mates and crew, Captain appeared to be feeling no pain as he blasted through the 90 minute set (plus two encores), confirming that the 40th anniversary tour is definitely back on!

"As movement is a bit awkward currently, I played last night seated, but it all went swimmingly and this epic 40th Anniversary tour is now firmly back on the road. We've played some great venues on the trip... and Asbury Park's Stone Pony is up there with the best of 'em. But I have to say I wish I'd waited till here before backflipping off the stage, as this one was only 3 feet high. D'oh!”

-Captain Sensible.

The Damned also announce a new label deal with Raw Power Management, the international artist management company, who have signed the legendary band to their label, Search and Destroy, a joint venture with Spinefarm Records/Universal. This new venture will see The Damned release their first new album for nearly ten years on Search and Destroy. The as-yet-unnamed new album will be recorded this summer and is the follow up to, ‘So, Who’s Paranoid?’, which came out in 2008.

Formed in 1976, The Damned really need no introduction… As well as releasing the first ever British punk single and album, they also broke further new ground as the first UK punk act to tour America. Cited as one of the most influential punk groups of all time, they also contributed vastly to the gothic rock genre and influenced an entire generation of future hardcore punk bands such as Black Flag and Bad Brains, with their fast paced energetic playing style and attitude, as well as heavyweights such as Green Day and Guns ’N’ Roses (the latter acknowledged the debt when they covered “New Rose” on their 1993 album, ‘The Spaghetti Incident’). Along with the Sex Pistols and The Clash, the Damned helped spearhead the punk movement in the UK and they continue to wave the flag for originality, stick two fingers up to mediocrity and celebrate a DIY punk ethos in the face of plastic entertainment and scripted reality, four decades and ten albums later (and still on the road).

The band's hugely influential classic debut single, 'New Rose', celebrated its 40th anniversary last November with a limited edition 7” release via BMG. Featuring original artwork, picture disc and exclusive fold out poster, it's a must have collectible release of one of the most influential records of all time. Their classic debut long-player, ‘Damned Damned Damned’ (the very first British punk album), was originally released by Stiff Records on February 18th 1977 and, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s dramatic breakthrough, BMG also released a very special Art Of The Album:Deluxe Edition of that incredible debut album onFebruary 17th, almost exactly 40 years to the day since its original issue.

Currently on a world tour, the band's two month North American run began in Los Angeles April 6th, and they also play a series of UK festivals this summer (check the band's website for details). David Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxymoron, Andrew 'Pinch' Pinching, and Stu West will head back into the studio after the North American dates to start work on a brand new album, their first since 2008's 'So, Who's Paranoid?' A pre-order link for the CD, colored vinyl, as well as exclusive merch (and experiences) is available at PledgeMusic. The band recently signed to Search & Destroy and will have more details regarding the new record in the coming weeks.

See The Damned live – it will be a night out that you will remember for a very long time..